rottydaddy
En-Route
Amen... when I was jetting around a lot for work, I had the whole drill down to a science. Almost always had a Pelican case full of tools that had to be checked, but whenever possible I'd also pack clothes and toiletries in there, and sometimes the laptop, to minimize the carry-on load and delays in the security gauntlet.
A couple of times, when I didn't have to bring tools and was staying for a week or less, all I had was a small backpack and laptop bag (easy to do when you aren't packing suits, LOL). Before I walk in the door of the terminal from the street, I have checked my pockets, got my flight info and/or pre-printed pass ready, etc. No futzing around at the check-in counter/kiosk or the security line. If I'm carrying on the laptop, it is out of the bag before I grab an x-ray bin, and the shoes are off. We can't be dignified anymore, so we may as well at least be expedient.
Of all the annoyances involved with airline travel, including the TSA games, unprepared and uncooperative pax are the worst. Delays, arguments, stuff all over the place... they make me crazy.